Consumer watchdog launches search tool to help citizens choose the right self-test kit

Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog on Wednesday launched an online search tool allowing consumers to ascertain whether a rapid antigen test product has been approved by relevant authorities of major markets, including Hong Kong, the mainland, Europe and the United States.

Citizens simply have to type in keywords of the rapid antigen test product and the search engine will display whether the product was approved by authorities.

Click here to access the search engine.

The search engine will also be able to provide clinical performance data of the product, including the specificity and sensitivity of the test kits. The product's name and photo will also be displayed to help consumers identify the genuine ones.

The Consumer Council noted that sensitivity was defined as how well a test detected an infection, while specificity was how well a test identified people who had not contracted the virus.

A valid rapid antigen test product should "have a minimum sensitivity of 80 percent and specificity of 97 percent”, according to the World Health Organisation.

Meanwhile, the watchdog said some European products bearing the "CE" marking have not been put through clinical trials and testing or independent third-party assessments, with manufacturers able to self-certify the products to get the marking.

Consumers can check if the CE marking is followed by a four-digit Notified Body number, which can help identify which external regulatory body reviewed or approved the medical device before the CE mark was put on the product, said the watchdog.